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Thursday, June 21, 2012

A Big Decision

Something I have considered doing with 'Evergreen: A Fallen Star'. To some, it might not seem like much, but you've got to keep in mind, this novel is like a child to me.

Last year, I began to write the sequel, based on one little unanswered question I'd left in 'A Fallen Star'. But after writing the first chapter of the sequel, I've been considering using it as the opening chapter of both books. The reason I'm considering using it as the first chapter in both books is that it makes this one unanswered question not seem so random. Reading over the manuscript for 'A Fallen Star', if I didn't know the story better, I may have thought I'd left the question unanswered by accident. Of course I don't want to come across as incompetent to my readers, including agents and editors and publishers. But I want to repeat the chapter at the beginning of the second book as well, just as a memory refresher, just to reinforce the ideas and information presented in it.

I've seen something similar done before. Patrick Rothfuss opened the first two books of his 'Kingkiller Chronicles' similarly. 'The Name of the Wind' and 'A Wise Man's Fear' both start with the description of a silence of three parts. It works amazingly in his books. Read his books.

Even if I use this chapter as a prologue rather than a chapter. I just feel the need to give my readers the information in what I wrote sooner than the second book. I'll have to get my trusty little helper Shaun to give it a read and give me his verdict. I'll ask around for some other opinions too.

10 comments:

It's very hard to say without actually seeing it in print. Question: do you see this as making you potentially incompetent because it really does make you look incompetent, or because you're being too critical?

I wish I could give you a better answer than that, but it's the best I got right now.

I figured most people who comment on my blog haven't read the book, so don't feel bad that you can't help more. I feel that it's good that I've picked up on this little bit of missed communication, I really do feel it needs more of an explanation in the first book than I've given it. :/ Thanks for your comment JeffO!

hmmm... my first thought is to not write a sequel until you've sold the first book. This is because your agent or editor might have you totlaly rewrite whole sections that have an impact on your first book.

I understand, and I'll say now that I've long since put the sequel on hold for mostly that reason. It was just itching to be written so I thought I better not let it disappear from my head while I had it. The thing is, said agent or editor might decide it doesn't even need a sequel if I put this piece in. Thanks for reminding me of that wider perspective as far as the sequel goes. :)

I second Christina's advice not to write a sequel, without having the first Evergreen being accepted. It's better to spend your time on writing Katherine. If the first Evergren will be accepted, then write the sequel.

That is what I intend to do now. I have long since put the second Evergreen book on hold; I just felt compelled to write a little of it towards the end of last year, and I'm glad I did. But until A Fallen Star is accepted, Katherine will become my focus while I'm querying. Thanks Giora.